AUTHORS
ABSTRACT
This paper describes the structure and functionality of OpTrak, which is a decentralized app (DApp) implemented using the Ethereum blockchain that targets the opioid epidemic currently plaguing the United States (US). The US has a severe problem stemming from the over prescription and distribution of opioids, costing the national healthcare system over $78 billion every year. Problems persist in every stage of the process, from doctors prescribing the medication to pharmacies fulfilling prescriptions. These problems arise from a combination of factors, including lack of accountability, transparency, and reliability in the current prescription drug monitoring programs. This work provides three key contributions to research on a technical approach to mitigate the opioid epidemic in the US. First, we pinpoint key problems and loopholes that exist in the current opioid prescription system. Second, we propose an integrated approach for addressing these problems by leveraging the disintermediation, immutability, and network consensus characteristics of distributed ledgers, focusing on blockchain technology. Third, we describe the structure and functionality of a DApp, called OpTrak, that allows a consortium of healthcare providers to exchange patient prescription data securely. Our initial DApp prototype logs prescription data access requests and responses on a private configuration of the Ethereum blockchain and provisions access to patient data accordingly across a network of providers.
Keywords: Opioids, Opioid Epidemic, Blockchain, Ethereum, Smart Contract, Healthcare, Data Sharing, Interoperability, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs